Exploring Self and Cultural Identities through an Interdisciplinary Model of Art Education an Illustrated Case Study and Heuristic Inquiry

This qualitative study utilized an interdisciplinary model of art education to explore the history of the researcher's African American family in South Carolina. The interdisciplinary model consisted of visual culture art education, art history, genealogy, oral history, and studio art. The researcher sought, by conducting the case study in the context of the six phases of heuristic inquiry, to explore her own sense of self and cultural identity. This exploration culminated in a series of oil paintings. This study addressed two major research questions: (1) what role may an interdisciplinary model of art education play in the exploration of self and cultural identities of African Americans? and (2) how does the investigator describe her personal experiences of self-discovery through the process of applying the expanded model of art education? The model of art education employed in the case study included elements of visual culture art education, art history, genealogy, oral history, and studio art. The study suggested that an interdisciplinary approach to art education can play a significant role in allowing individuals to explore their African American family histories and cultural heritage.;Key Words: Art Education, African American Art, Visual Culture, Genealogy.